Shifting device



April 1929- J. BLACKBURN SHIFTING DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet Filed July 2,1928 Patented Apr. 16, 1929.

JASPER BLACKBURN, OF WEBSTER GROVES, MISSOURI.

SHIFTING DEVICE.

Application filed July 2,

My invention relates to im n'ovements in shifting devices, and has forits primary object a shifting device intended for sliding geartransmissions.

A further object is to construct a shifting device in which the usualshift lever projecting through the floor board of a. motor vehicle iseliminated and by this arrangement the floor board is free andunobstructed.

A still further object is to construct a shifting device in which theshifting olements are operated by means of the clutch pedal and in whichthe shifting elements operate laterally of the transmission.

A still further object is to construct a shifting device in which thedesired speed can be preselected and then upon the depression of theclutch pedal, the shifting acconiplished. In. this way there is nodanget, and in fact no possibility of shifting gears while the clutch isin engagement.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of a sliding gear transmissionshowing the engine flywheel and clutch and the shifting elements inposition.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of my device with the floor hoards of a motorvehicle and the transmission casing covering removed. Fig. 3 is anenlarged fr'agmental view with parts in section showing the manner ofpreventing accidental rotation of the shifting element operating rod.

Fig. 4 is a fragmental end View of Fig. 3 looking in the direction ofthe arrow.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the bell crank usedin operating theshifting element operating roc.

Figs. 6, 7-, 8 and 9 are plan views of the shifting elements.

Fig-10 is an end. view of the shifting elements in assembled form.

Fig. 11 is a fragmental section taken on the line 1111 of Fig. 10 andshowing the shift-ing element operating rod in position.

Fig. 12 is a section taken on the line 12-12 of'Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic view of the shifting elements when in neutralposition.

Fig. 1 1- is a similar view showing the position of the reverse shiftingelement.

Fig. 15 is a similar view showing the position of the low speed shiftingelement.

Fig. 16 is a similar view showing. the powheel.

1928. Serial No. 289,815.

sition of the second or intermediate speed element. 1

Fig. 17 is a similar view showing the position of the hi h speedshifting element.

Fig. 18 is a iragmental view with parts in scctionof the upper end ofthe preselecting rod. p i

Fig. 19 is a sectional view of thelower portion of the preselecting rodshowing the manner in which the same is rocked back and forth. 7 i iFig. 20 is a fragmental section of one of the shifter bars showing theposition of the rollers thereon.

Fig. 21 is a fragmental perspective of that end of the shifting elementoperating rod which engages with the shifting element.

Fig. 22 is a fragment-a1 view with parts in shaft 29 in the usual mannerso that itcan be engaged and disengaged with the fly- The shaft 29extends into the housing 25 and has on its end a gear 30. This gearmeshes with the gear 31 on the countter-shaft 32. The gears 33 and 34Bare also mounted on the counter-shaft 32 and are connected with thegear. 31 so that all of thesegears will turn simultaneously. The drivenshaft 35 has one end mounted in the shaft 29. The other end 36 projectsthrough the rear of the casing 25 and which is arfrom, which; collar isprovided with internal gear teeth. These teeth, however, are not shownas they are of the ordinary construction now used in standardtransmissions. The teeth are designed to engage with the teeth on thegear 30 tor hlgh speed.

The gear 38 is provided with a grooved iii ing of, thetransinission.

collar l. in which the shift r for; is located. The gear wheel 39 has asimilar collar' l3 for the reception of the shifter fork The shifterfork l2 mounted on a shifter bar 4:5 while the'shifter fork ll ismounted on a shifter bar l6. Each of theshifter bars has a roller d7rotatably mounted on its upper face and a roller 4-8 on its lower face.These rollers project through openings in the shifting; elements as willhe hereinafter oxplaiuedg two of these elements being lo- :ated on topof the bars, and two on the lower. The construction of each of theshifter bars as to the rollers is identical.

Located within the housing are gears 49 and 50 which comprise thereverse gear- The rear end of the transmission is also provided with ahousing 51, which extends laterally across the housing 25 and in whichthe shifting elements are located, the reverse. shifting element beingthe lowest. 11 this is placed a first speed shifting eleinentSZ-l. Ontop of the first s ieedshifting element rest the shifter rods and 4-6.Placed on the shifter rods is the higl speed shifting; element 5d: andon top of the high speed shifthip; element is placed the second speedshifting element 55.

The high and second speed elements are provided with triangular-sharperopenings 06 adjacent the forward end of the elements and withsubstantially Y shaped openings 57 toward the rear of the elements.

The rollers 47 on the shifter rods all) extend into the openings 56of-hoth of these elements and the rollers 47 on the shifter rod d6through the openin s 57.

The first and reverse speed shifting elen'ients are provided adjacenttheir forward ends withsubstantially Y shaped openings 58 and tothe rearof these openings with triangular openings The rollers 48 on the shifterrod. 4:5 pass through the openings 58 in the plates and 53 while therollers 48 on the shifter rods 46 pass through the openings 59.

The plate is provided at its forward edge 60 with an extension 61, whichextension provided with a down-turned lip 62. The p ate 5st has itsforward edge 63 provid ed with auextension 64- which is provided with adown-turned lip 65. The extension 6- 11, however, offset to one side ofthe center of the plate so that the lip 65 will lie nextto the lip 62and to the front sioe.

thereof. 7

The plate has its edge 66 provided with an extension 67, which extensionhas an upturned lip 68. The extension 67 is so arranged that the lip 68wil lie toward the rear side of the lip 65.

The p ate 52 has its edge 69 provided with an extension 70, which isprovided with an lip-turned lip 71. The extension 70 is in the center ofthe edge and when the plates are assembled the lip 7]. will be d ectlybelow the lip This arrangement clearly disclosed in l0.

lected element. 7

The rod '72 also carries a collar 7 which collar is adapted to abut heouter edge or face of the various lips for the rut-pose of bringing theshifting element, which has been operated on, back to its startingposition. 7

The operating rod 72 is s bearings 75, 7G, and 77, the oea l 4 7? beingrelatively lose together an ceiving a sh .lHG wheel '58 between T8 isprovided with keys the The sheave wheel '29, which fit in keyways fo'nied iii shaft 72. In this way the shaft 72 can l longitudinalinoven'ieut in. the shear i but when the sheave wheel is 12 operatingrod will also ro This \pO1.'tl tion and its purpose will he explained indetail later.

The bearing '74 is also provided wi 81. which are adap led the lieyways80 when longitudinally and thus I movement or rotation of end 82 of theoperatin made cylindrical and so that when the sha 72 is in its startingposition, it can he freely rot; ad but, as soon as longitudinal movementimparted, it will he held against rotation.

The shaft 72 is also provided with a grooved collar 83, which receivestire forir 84- of a hell rank lever 85. Tl'iis hell cranl: lever ispivoted as at 80 and has on its short arm 87 an upst riding projection88 through which a rod 89 is pivotally connected at $0 to the clutchlever 91. The rear end of 21H rod, however, is provided i a. sl op ornut pas.

went accidental l the outer owever, is

t .1 a meter reducerv 92, which, when the clutch is in engagement,

some distance to the rear of the projection 88. This for the purpose ofpermitting clutch to he disengaged a predetermined dis ancehefore opeating the bell crank lever 85.

Between the collar 83 and hearing 76 is lowill he at cated a coil spring93, which coil spri rounds the shaft and has one end ato the collar 83,which collar is ti 'l cure-(l to the shaft 72, the other end or thespring, being secured to the bearing 76. The purpose of the sprii r.primarily i) keep the rod 72 in the n. l T

v1 2 but, however, wh n t l no hen Cl :2

Fill

is rocked, longitudinal movement is imparted to the shaft 72 and thespring compressed. This spring also prevents accidental movementof thebell crank lever due to vibration 01'' the machine.

Attached to the arm 87 of the bell crank lever 85 is a cable orchain-9+t which passes around sheave wheels and is connected to an arm96 carried by the preselecting rod 97. This arm has also attachedthereto a coil spring 98, the coil spring 98 being attached to anysuitable point with the automobile body not shown and has a tendency toreturn the arm 96 to its normal position after it has been pulleddownward by the operation ot the bell crank lever 85-.

The arm 96 is provided with a boss 99 carrying a key 100, which key in akeyway extending in a lon itudinal direction in the preselecting rod 97.

The ,preselecting rod 97 is provided at its upper end with a handle 101by means oi which a rod can bevpulled upward or can be rotated withoutrocking the bell crank lever 85. This is for the purpose of altering thepreselection without operating any of the shifting elements or clutchpedal.

Adjacent the handle 101 is a spring actuated dog 102 which is designedto come in contact with spaced apart stops 103, 104 and 105.Adjacent'the stops 103 and 10 1 are stops106. The stops 103,;104 and105are provided with an opening 107 through which the rod 97 slidablypasses. The openings in thestops 103 and 104, however, are provided witha cutaway portion 108. which are of sufiicient size to permit the dog102 to pass therethrough.

The stops 106, however, are relatively narrow and not provided with acutaway portion. his is 1'01 the reason that when the rod 97 is turnedby means of the arimthe dog 102 can pass through the cutaway portion 108and downward movement of the rod is limited by the stop 106. However, assoon as the spring 98 turns the rod 97 to itsoriginal position, the dog102 will pass above the stop104; and permit the rod to move down to thestop 104 where the operation is repeated permitting the rod to movedownward and the dog to contact with the a stop 105. As aforementioned,this stop is not provided with acutaway portion as it is thentmost limitof downward movement of the rod 97. This downward movement is occasionedby a spring 109 which is preferably fastened to the floor board of thevehicle and exerts a downward pull on the rod.

To the lower end of the rod 97 is attached a chain or table 110, whichpasses around a sheave wheel 111 and then has its end wrapped around asheave wheel 78. By pulling up on the rod 97 the chain or cable 110 ispulled and the shaft 72 rotated so as to bring the tooth or projection73 in alignment with one of the'lips carried by the shifting elementsand then upon movement of the clutch pedal longitudinal movement isimparted to the rod 72 through the bell crank lever. This movement willoperate a preselected shitting element moving the desired shifter bar. a1

During the pulling up of therod 97, the cable or chain 110, of course.exerts a rotary movement on the sheave wheel and on the rod 72 thuswinding up or placing a rotary tension on the spring 93 and as the roddescends from stop to stop, this tension is exerted in the opposite Wayto rotate the rod 72 in the opposite direction thereby pcr-: mittingautomatic preselection.

It will also be not-ed fromFig. 2 and from Figs. 6,7, 8 and 9that theshifting elements 52, 53, 5a and 55 are provided with notches 112. whichare adapted to be engaged by spring actuated plungers 113, which arelocated in one sidewall of the housing 51; The purpose of these plungersis to prevent accidental movement of any shifting elements not actuatedby the operating rod 72. This is to overcome any possibility of thefriction between two adjacentplates partially moving one plate andthereby prevent complete shiftingof the preselected gear.

The operation of my device is as follows: It will be supposed that themachine or automobile is so positioned in the garage that its rear isatthe outlet door. \Vhen in this position, of course, the transmissionis in neutral and the engine can be started without imparting anymovement whatsoever tothe vehicle. After theengine has been started, theoperator grasps the handle 101 and pulls the rod 97 upward, the upwardlimit of the rod being controlled by the key-way in the preselecting rodcontacting with the lower end of the key 100. This upward pullwillrotat-e the shaft 72 so that the dog 73 thereon will contact or beinposition to contact with the upturned lip 71 of the extension 70 carriedby the shifting element 52; 1 Then a forward movement of the clutchpedal will cause the tooth 73 to contact with the lip 71 and pull theplate 52 t'orward causing the inclined edge of the opening therein tocontact with the roller 48 carried bythe shifter rod 1-1 and move thesame reaiwardthus causing the gear 39 to mesh with the gear 50. As soonas this hasbeen done, the foot eedal is released which will cause thecollar (4 to contact with the lip 71 of the plate52 and bring it backinto its original position and the machine will start backward.

The handle is then released and the dog 102 strikes a stop 103 andprevents any further downward or longitudinal movement of thepreselecting rod. This releasing of the handle causes a partial rotationof the the winding up of the spring 93.

After the vehicle has been backed a sufficient distance, the clutchlever again depressed which, as before, will rock the bell crank leveron its pivot and impart longitudinal movement to the operating rod '72.The partial rotation, however, has now brought the tooth into such aposition that it will contact with the lip 68 and upon the fulldepression of the clutch pedal, the plate 58 will be moved forward,imparting an opposite directional movement to the shift lever llithrough the roller l8 causing the gearwheel 49 to move forward andengage with the gear 3-4:. The device is now in first speed forward.

After the vehicle has acquired a certain amount of momentum, the clutchpedal again is depressed, rocking the bell crank lever 85 and impartinglongitudinal movement again to the operating rod 72 and simultaneouslytherewith also exerting a downward pull on the cable 9e1- pulling downthe arm 96 so as to rotate the preselecting rod 97 to such a degree thatthe dog 102 willpass. through the opening 108, which permits the rod 97to slide dmvnward to the next position orpreselection. However. theshaft 72 can not turn because it has been moved longitudinally asufficient distance to permit the keys S7 to engage the keyways 81 inthe rod 72.

After the shifting has been completed, the clutch pedal is againreleased, which permits the rod to descent farther and engage with thestop 106. However, on account. of the key-ways in the shaft 72 the tooth73 cannot become disengaged from the lip but it must remain in thatposition until the collar 74 has brought that particular plate back intoposition. Then the shaft 72 can turn farther permitting the dog 102 tobe raised up above the upper edge of the stop 106 so that the rod canmove farther and engage with the stop 104.

The further movement of the rod 97, however, is prevented by reason ofthe fact that the dog 102 is now out of alignment with the opening 108in that particular stop. This rotation will bring, the tooth; 73 intoposition to engagewith the projection or lip 62 carried by the plateAnother depression of the clutch pedal. will commence to move this plateforward causing the roller 17 carried by the shifter rod 15 to engagewithv the inclined edge of the opening in this plate. This will drawback the shifter rod -15 bringing the gear 38 into mesh with the gearwhich will be the second speed forward.

Then by again depressing the clutch pedal to its fullest extent, thetooth 73, which has been previously turned by the movements previouslydescribed, is brought into position so that it will contact with the lipcarried by the plate 5%. This movementwill move the shifter rod 45forward causing the internal gear 10 to mesh with the gear 30.

During these various movements inst described, especially in shiftingfrom reverse or low to either second or high, the inclined sides of theopenings 57 in the plates 54 and will contact with the roller t8carriiu'l by the shifter rod 16 and shift this rod in such a manner thatthe gear cont-rolled thereby will be in neutral position. In the samemanner, if the vehicle has been shifted into high speed and thepreseleeting rod set for low speed, the inclined edges of al opening 57in the plate 5% will contact with the roller a7 carried by the shifterrod to and draw the gear controlled by that rod out of its positionbefore the inclined edge of the triangular opening, formed in theshifting element which has been preselected, will move the oppositeshifter bar and thereby it will not be possible to shift one gear whileanother is in mesh. In other words, the shifting elements are soarranged that when one shifting element is moved, it not alone opcratesa preselected shifter bar but also will place another shifter bar, whichhas been previously moved, in operation. so as to place the gearcontrolled thereby out of mesh and in neutral position.

I have found it desirable when going from one speed to another to make aslight pause after a previously engaged gear has been disengaged beforeoperating the clutch pedal farther to engage the next preselected gearand in order to enable the operator to easily tell when thisdisengagement has taken place I have provided what I call a feeler. Thisfeeler consi. s of a coil spring 114, its one end being secured in a lag115 which is preferably fastened to the transmissionhousing althoughthis end of the spring may be attached at any other convenient point.

Carried by the long arm of the bell crank lever 85 is a bracket 116through which an eye belt 117 extends. The opposite end of the spring114 is secured in the eye of, this bolt. The opposite end of the bolt isprovided with a stop or nut 118 which normally spaced away from thebracket 110 so that the bell crank lever can have a certain amount ofmovementbefore the nut 1 18 contacts with the bracket. As soon. as thiscontact is made the coil spring 114 commences to expand thus placingadditional tension on the bell crank lever and making neces sary toapply more power to the clutch pedal 91 thus warning the operator thatthe next engagement is about to commence. This feeler also assist inrestoring the tra mission to neutral since if the operator stops pushingon the clutch pedal this period, that is soon this additional pre sureis felt, the transmission will be in neutral fore the additional tensioncommences and at such a time when all of the sliding gears are out ofmesh.

By this arrangement the driver of the vehicle can readily ascertain whenthe device has passed into neutral after being previously in gear. Ofcourse, with an experienced operator this feeler becomes unnecessary ashe has learned by experienced just how far to push the clutch pedal soas to shift the transmission into neutral.

Having fully described my invention what I claim is 1. A shifting devicecomprising the combination with a sliding gear transmission, of aplurality of laterally movable superimposed shifting elements located tothe rear of said transmission, shifter bars extending into saidtransmission and communicating with said shifting elements, and meansoperated by the clutch pedal of a motor vehicle for operating saidshifting elements longitudinally in desired sequence.

2. A shifting device for sliding gear transmissionscomprising a slidinggear transmission and its housing, laterally moving plates located atthe rear of said housing, longitudinally moving shifter bars slid-ably-arried by said housing and communicating with said shifter elements,alongitudinally operating rod provided on one end with a projection forcontacting with a predetermined shifter element, said rod connected toand adapted to be moved longitudinally by the movement of a clutchpedal, and means for rotating said shitting element operating rodwhereby said projection can be brought into operative contact with apredetermined shifting element.

3. A shifting device comprising a plurality of shifting elementsprovided with triangular and Y shaped openings, shifter bars locatedbetween certain of said shifting elements, rollers carried by saidshifter rods and extending into said openings, means op erated bytheclutch pedal of a motor vehicle for 1mpart1nglong1tud1nal movement tosaid shift ng elements, said means lncludmg a preselecting means wherebya predetermined shifting element can be operated.

4. Ashifting device comprising the combination with a sliding geartransmission, of a plurality of laterally movable shifting elementshaving openings, certain edges of which are at an angle less than 90degrees to the remaining edges located at oneend of said transmission,shifter bars extending fromsaid transmission and having projectionsthereon, said projections extending into the openings in said elements,means operated bythe clutch pedal of a motor vehicle for operating saidshifting elements, and means for moving said last mentioned means so asto preselect a desired shifting element.

5. A shifting device for sliding gear transmissions comprising a slidinggear transmission and its housing, of a plurality of superimposedshifting elements located at one end of said housing and movablelaterally thereto, longitudinally moving shifter bars slidably carriedby said housing and communicating with said shifter elements, alongitudinally moving operating rod provided at one end with means forcontacting with a predetermined shifting element, means for operatingsaid rods'o as to preselect the shifting element desired, and meansoperated by the movement of the clutch pedal for imparting longitudinalmovement to said 0pcrating rod so as to impart longitudinal movement tothe preselected shifting element.

6. A shlftmg device comprising a plurality of superimposed shiftingelements pro vided with openings, certain edges of which are arranged atan angle of less than 90 degrees to the remaining edges, shifter barslocated between certain of said shifting ele ments, means carried bysaid shifter rods and extending into said openings, means operated bythe clutch pedal of a motor vehicle for imparting longitudinal movementto said shitting elements, said means including a preselecting meanswhereby a predetermined shifting element can be operated.

7. A shifting device comprising the combination with a sliding geartransmission and its housing, of a plurality of superinr posed laterallymovable shifting elements carried by said housing, shifter bars locatedwithin said housing and communicating with saidelements, means operatedby the clutch pedal 0: a motor vehicle and connected to said shittingelements for operating the same laterally of the housing, and means forro-- tatin said last mentioned means so as to preselect a desiredshitting element.

In testimony whereotI have afiixcd my signature.

JASPER BLACKBURN.

